I HATE Sleeves

So I got my crochet mojo back. I've been working on Tammy Hilderbrand's "Chicago Swing Jacket" since late last month. I can only crochet for short stretches so I'm just now getting to the sleeves. I'm sure I mentioned my hatred when I wrote about Afya's "It's a Wrap". Well, Chicago hasn't made me love them anymore. It's my second "large wearable" and the sleeve construction was new to me. The shoulder (a sort of cap-sleeve) was made first and then the rest of the sleeve is worked. I'm including some pictures of the item and a close-up of the offending pre-sleevage
So far I've used just shy of 2 skeins of Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather (it looks silver to me due to the sheen of the yarn). I'm guessing it'll end up being around 2 and a third maybe a half. I haven't found buttons I want to use just yet. I thought about finding some large sew on rhinestones and using those for a bit of pop. That or grey square buttons. I really don't want to crochet the buttons like the pattern suggest. Decisions decisions.

Crochet Christmas Randomosity

Okay, so no pictures today. Just a nice list of things that I need to make and package before Christmas. I have only managed to finish a neck warmer for my favorite newlywed. That still means I need to do a hat for the set, and a hat for "that man". I need to make a little purse for my friend's daughter, but I think it might be forced to wait until after Christmas. I don't like to make her wait, because I promised it to her soooo long ago, but I also have a paper to write, and a final to prepare for :(. I'm kind of happy to say it though, I've been abandoning my craft time in favor of quality time. Maybe I'll say more later lol. Oh yeah and let my not forget the top part of a sweater that's staring at me from across the room. I'm working top down and in the round based on the Sweet template on Crochet me. I started working it up in Lion-brand wool-ease, but I realized it'd be more cozy in homespun (I LOVE the Lagoon color) It's this amazing teal with wisps of plum-my purple. It's just gorgeous. Not the most expensive yarn, but hey I'm on a budget. I am going to finish the wool-ease version, maybe do something tunic length. (I have a butt load of the yarn; I purchased it for a project a year or so ago, and it didn't work for the pattern. There may be pictures... in January.